Ballroom shoes are an investment, and whether you dance professionally or socially, you want them to last for as long as possible. To help you out, here are ways to keep your dancing shoes in excellent condition.
Be Cautious About How You Wear the Shoes
Your chosen pair should fit as nicely as Cinderella’s glass slippers. As obvious as it may sound, you do not want your feet to slide within the shoe. Don’t rush through getting ready; take the time to fix your buckles (women) and tie your laces tightly (men).
Be cautious when putting on and taking off your dance shoes. Wear them only in the dancing studio; otherwise, the abrasive ground outside can damage the soles. Suede leather, in particular, cannot handle dirt, wetness, or uneven flooring, so never wear the shoes outside.
If you can afford it, get another pair of dance shoes to flip between. This not only offers each pair a respite, but different shoes target different muscles.
Finally, good heel protection can be beneficial. These are designed to protect your heel from the wear and tear that comes with continuous use.
Watch How You Store the Shoes
After a long practice, throwing your dancing shoes for ballroom into a bag and hiding them away is tempting. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst things to do.
You should note that plastic will make your shoes sweat, rot, and stink. The same goes for all bags made of non-breathable fibers or fabric. Boxes are also unsuitable since they produce a moist environment.
The best approach is to keep your shoes in a dry place and leave them out overnight to air out. This is an effective approach to keeping microorganisms at bay.
If your shoes are incredibly damp, fill them with newspaper to help draw away moisture. Never use a hair dryer or heater to dry your leather shoes, as heat can be harmful.
Brush the Soles to Maintain Grip
When you flip your dance shoes over, you’ll see that the sole differs from your regular trainers or boots. Most ballroom dance shoes have suede soles.
Suede soles allow the shoe to glide across the floor without sticking or sliding. The downside to this is that suede soles deteriorate quickly and become shiny and smooth and you don’t want this.
When this happens, the shoe loses its hold and begins to slip rather than glide. To prevent this, brush your suede soles with a wire brush to maintain the grip.
Once the wire has rubbed a texture back into the suede, there should be enough traction to dance on. Be careful not to accidentally brush or catch the upper material when brushing.
Remember that the shoe brush can cause significant, lasting damage to satin, leather, or any other fabric, so be ultra-cautious when using it.
For the best outcome, brush your suede soles after every second use.
Clean the Shoes Appropriately
If your shoes are made of canvas, you can throw them in the washing machine. While this is the case, avoid using the dryer, as it causes shrinking.
Other materials do not perform well in the washing machine, so avoid putting them there and instead find ways of cleaning them appropriately.
To clean leather dancing shoes, simply use a moist cloth. Once dry, apply wax or cream polish to protect the leather.
If you own patent leather shoes, never apply ordinary polish on them. Instead, use patent dressing after drying (with a moist cloth). Use a gentle cloth to add shine.
A clean toothbrush removes dirt from suede dance shoes (brush from front to back). While a suede treatment solution will help eliminate stains, be sure the shoes are dry before wearing them.
To avoid ruining your shoes as you clean them, here are the steps you should follow:
- Start by removing dirt with a soft bristle brush.
- Blot stains with a damp towel (cold water) from top to bottom of the shoe.
- Wipe stubborn spots with a moist, soapy cloth (hand-washing liquid).
- Rinse the shoe immediately by patting it with a clean, moist cloth.
- To dry your shoe, simply pat it with a hand towel. Do not rub the fabric, as this causes stains.
Wear Heel Covers
Heel coverings are an easy way to extend the life of your ballroom shoes. Remember that heels sustain a lot of wear and tear.
Simply covering them with a plastic heel cover can significantly reduce the damage. Not only will this reduce stress on your shoe, but the coverings can also provide extra traction on the dance floor.
Make It a Habit to Air Dry the Shoes After Wear
When you dance, you sweat, and that includes your feet. When you take off your dance shoes, make sure to air them out properly.
It’s easy to forget about your ballroom shoes and throw them in your luggage with the rest of your stuff. Don’t do this. Instead, air-dry them to extend their life.
Remember that sweat is damp, and moisture will cause your shoes to wear out.
Sweat can discolor satin and leather, resulting in nasty shoes. And you don’t want this, do you? The excess dampness might also cause the soles to peel prematurely.
The best approach is to bring a mesh shoe bag with you to carry your shoes home. Before you store them for later use, allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct heat and sunshine, not on a radiator.
As mentioned above, store your shoes in a clean, dry place.
Parting Shot
These are some of the things you need to do to ensure that your ballroom dancing shoes last a long time. To make it easy to take good care of the shoes, ensure that you buy high-quality ones that will stand the test of time.
This calls for you to be ultra-cautious and ensure that you buy from a reputable store. You will not enjoy dancing if your shoes are too small or big for your feet. Wrong-sized shoes also don’t last as long, so always ensure that you buy shoes of the right size.
